Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-09-28
In Ancient Attire.

Until the end of the eighteenth cen,
tuTy it is doubtful which sex went to
the greater extreme in the matter OF
dress; certainly they kept very much
in the same line, and no change APP
pears to have been too ridiculous or
too extravagant for adoption, says 81
james Gdzette High-heeied shoes,
muffs and fans were common to all.
The modern exquisite, armed with
eye-giass and dressed strictly a lG mode,
can bear no comparison with the
beaux who in the reign or Charles IL.
pAraded the streets singing, their faces
| spotted with patches and with love
| locks, the ends of which were tied with
large bows of silk hanging on their
shoulders. At their knees Were
punches of ribbons of all colors, while
! their boot-tops were turned down as
! low as the spurs, in order to show the
! line lace with which they were lined.
No less remarkable was the firs.-rate
| exquisite of The reign of James II. He
| carried about with him large comb OF
! ivory or tortoise shell, aud with this lie
| combed his peruke ian article of attire
| then newly introduced from France)
| while in conversation or at the opera,
| doubtless with the same air as the
modern gallant twIrls his moustache.
Who would imagine that Raleigh,
when he spread his cloak over the nlry
spot which the virgin queen desired to
cross, could have been clothed in aught
but doubIet and hose, with high ruff,
! short cloak thrown over one shoulder
and long rapier hanging by his slider
| Aud what would have become of the
renowned Falstaff were he attired in a
court suit of the present dayI
Without the grandeur of silk and
satin, or the glitter of innumerable
jewels, these historical characters
would sink almost into insignificance.
Nothing could be more recklessly ex-
trayagant than the dress of such as
George Villiers, who at one time or
dered twenuy-seven suits of clothes
richly ornamented with lace, gold,
silver aud jewels. One of these is said
10 have been of white velvet, thlckly
incrusted with diamonds valued al
$4,000, and these were fastened sc
loosely that he could by slight move
ment shake them off TO the great de
hight of those in his immediate neigh
borhood. Nor did his extravaganza
stop here. In his richly-decorated cal
was an enormous feather almost GOV
cred with diamonds, as were also hi:
belt and sword.
Raleigh also proved himself lavish a:
regards his dress. The shoes alon,
which he wore on special OCCASION
were covered with diamonds valued a
nearly eSU, 900, while rubies, pearls an,
r diamonds gIittered on every part of hi:
costume.
A suit of arnOr which he possessed
was made of solid silver, and in man
} other instances this love of show Wa
l observable in him.
| Among the nobility each seemed I,
, vie with the other for precedence in IT,
l value OF their attire, and some &r
even spoken of as having had thei
t horses shod with silver.
The ladies also exhibited their low
of grandeur, and we hear of a lad
. who appeared at the marriage OF Eliza
= beth of Bohemia like a comet, a
a crimson velvet and beaten gold, til
embroidery with which her dress Wa
i covered being valued at $50 per yard